involuntarily over the other's face.

"Oh! it was not that!--It was--" He paused, reflected half a second.
"I'll be there," he added, and, turning quickly, withdrew, leaving
Livingstone feeling very blank and then, somewhat angry. He was angry
with himself for making such a blunder, and then angrier with the clerk
for leading him into it.

"That is the way with such people!" he reflected. "What is the use of
being considerate and generous? No one appreciates it!"

The more he thought of it, the warmer he became. "Had he not taken Clark
up ten--fifteen years ago, when he had not a cent in the world, and now
he was getting fifteen hundred dollars a year--yes, sixteen hundred,
and almost owned his house; and he had made every cent for him!"

At length, Livingstone's sense of injury became so strong, he could
stand it no longer. He determined to have a talk with Clark.

He opened the door and walked into the outer office. One of the younger
clerks was just buttoning up his overcoat. Livingstone detected a scowl
on his face. The sight did not improve Livingstone's temper. He would
have liked to discharge the boy on the spot. How often had he ever
called on them to wait? He knew men who required their clerks to wait
always until they themselves left the office, no matter what the hour
was. He himself would not do this; he regarded it as selfish. But now
when it had happened by accident, this was the return he received!

He contented himself with asking somewhat sharply where Mr. Clark was.